National Youth Department

National Youth Board (2007)

Standing:
Minister John Hawthorne, Minister Ronald T. Scott, Minister Chadd Middleton
Seated:
Brothers Dwayne Brockington, Ferdinand Hamilton, Julius Scott, Charles Johnson, Craig Fulton

National Youth Board
Brother Ferdinand Hamilton, President
Minister John Hawthorne, Secretary
Brother Dwayne Brockington
Brother Craig Fulton
Minister Chaddrick Middleton
Minister Sean Johnson
Board of Bishops Advisor: Bishop J. D. Williams

Past National Presidents
Minister Joel G. Washington, Jr.
Elder William E. Smith
Brother Ervin Hinton
Brother Charles G. Johnson
Minister John Hawthorne
Brother Julius Scott

NATIONAL GOALS

1. Establish a Parent Support Group in Each Church

2. Establish a Reading Club in each church

3. Promote Spiritual Growth of our youth

Scenes from the 2006
Regional Parent/Youth Summit for churches
in South Carolina and North Carolina

Session for Youth Ages 3-5

Session for Youth ages 6-9

Session for Youth ages 10-13

Session for Youth ages 14-17

Session for Parents and Adults

Sisters prepare lunch for Summit attendees

Attendees enjoy the fellowship luncheon

Attendees enjoy the fellowship luncheon

Presiding Bishop Edward Smith gives final remarks to a joint session of parents and youth

Bishop Smith thanks National Youth President, Brother John Hawthorne, for his work with the youth of the church

National Youth Department - INITIATIVES AND PROGRAM AREAS

The National Youth Department is in an interim transition phase as it moves toward restructuring its officers and program areas. An Ad-hoc Committee was formed in May of 2000 to examine the officer structure and program areas sponsored by the National Youth Department. This committee submitted a final report to the Presiding Bishop. The report is in its implementation phase between now and next year's convocation. Three major initiatives are now being established during this interim period to better serve the youth of our churches. They are:

1. Education Committee
This committee is being established to plan career fairs, education workshops and other informative secular education seminars and presentations for our youth and their parents. The Education Committee shall coordinate the establishment of National Youth Department scholarships and grants and devise guidelines for awarding such. This committee will also assist with writing Christian Education lessons to be used by local youth departments in local youth training programs as well as assist with the selection of commercially developed curriculum.

2. Program Development Committee
This committee is being established to coordinate and schedule services, training seminars and other programs sponsored by the National Youth Department. This committee shall also coordinate and plan dates and activities for the National Youth Convention. The Program Development Committee shall coordinate and publish the "Progressive Heritage" which is the newsletter of the National Church. This committee shall also assist with establishing program areas such as: "Adopt-a-Senior," "Adopt-a-Disabled Person," witnessing programs, and other program areas created by the National Youth Department.

3. Recreation Activities Committee
This committee is being established to coordinate and schedule wholesome recreational activities. The Recreation Committee shall coordinate the establishment of basketball leagues, volleyball leagues, softball leagues, and other sports leagues deemed appropriate for wholesome recreation. This committee shall work with representatives of the local churches to establish local church sports teams.

The interim chairpersons for the committees will be coordinating their respective functions. All local youth department presidents and vice-presidents are encouraged to attend the National Youth Department Officers Meetings, which will focus on further developing the above named areas as we proceed during this transition period. All meetings will be held at the headquarters church in Columbia, SC.

We look forward to positive results as we work together to help our youth survive and thrive both spiritually and secularly in an ever-changing world.

GOALS
1.	TO PROMOTE POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONCEPT.
2.	TO INSTILL PRIDE AND SELF-DISCIPLINE.
3.	TO INSTILL A THIRST FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE.
4.	TO ENHANCE EFFECTIVE DECISION-MAKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS.
5.	TO ENHANCE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
6.	TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A STABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM.
7.	TO PROVIDE WHOLESOME RECREATION, LEISURE-TIME AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
8.	TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE AS A KEY ELEMENT IN EFFECTIVE DAILY LIVING.
9.	TO ENHANCE GOAL-SETTING AND ATTAINMENT SKILLS.
10.	TO PROMOTE THE PURSUIT AND ATTAINMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND/OR VOCATIONAL CAREER GOALS.
11.	TO PROMOTE PERSONAL EVANGELISM.
12.	TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY BALANCE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL AND SECULAR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

ROLE OF THE YOUTH DEPARTMENT IN THE CHURCH

CLOSING STATEMENT

LOCAL YOUTH DEPARTMENT NEWS

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"FOR WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT"

NATIONAL YOUTH MOTTO

II CORINTHIANS 5:7